BC-AP News Digest 3:20 am

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org .

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TOP STORIES

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NEW ZEALAND-MOSQUE SHOOTING _ New Zealand’s stricken residents reached out to Muslims in their communities and around the country in a fierce determination to show kindness as a 28-year-old white supremacist stood silently before a judge, accused in mass shootings at two mosques that left 49 people dead. By Juliet Williams and Nick Perry. SENT: 1,240 words, video, photos. With NEW ZEALAND-MOSQUE SHOOTING-THE LATEST; NEW ZEALAND-MOSQUE SHOOTING-SENATOR _ An Australian senator who sparked outrage by blaming Muslim immigration for a white supremacist’s bloody rampage in two New Zealand mosques faces a reprimand from lawmakers next month. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos; NEW ZEALAND-MOSQUE SHOOTING-BACKGROUND _ Those who watched Brenton Tarrant growing up in the sleepy Australian country town of Grafton apparently had no inkling of the evil potential that he allegedly unleashed in merciless gunfire in two New Zealand mosques that claimed at least 49 lives. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. See more digest lines below.

TRUMP-CONGRESS _ President Donald Trump’s veto of a bipartisan congressional resolution rejecting his border emergency declaration is more than a milestone. It signals a new era of tenser relations between the two ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. By Zeke Miller and Catherine Lucey. SENT: 750 words, photo. With TRUMP-BORDER SECURITY _ Trump demonstrates he is not through fighting for his signature campaign promise, which stands largely unfulfilled 18 months before voters decide whether to grant him another term. SENT: 1,000 words, photos, video.

SYRIA-WAR ANNIVERSAY _ Syria is marking the eighth anniversary of its grinding war, and while the Islamic State group’s territorial defeat will close one of its bloody conflicts, others are still burning. The violence has left a trail of broken lives among the shattered population, and individual Syrians are trying to find their way in a maze of conflicts, players and interests that only gets more complex. By Sarah El Deeb. SENT: 1430 words, photos.

ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE _ New York City is hosting its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, bringing together tens of thousands of marchers in one of the largest American celebrations of Irish heritage. The six-hour procession of green-clad marchers up Fifth Avenue, past St. Patrick’s Cathedral, is one of the city’s oldest events, with its earliest iterations dating back more than 250 years. By SENT:

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MORE ON NEW ZEALAND-MOSQUE SHOOTING

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NEW ZEALAND-MOSQUE SHOOTING-TRUMP _ President Trump plays down the threat posed by racist white nationalism after the gunman accused of the New Zealand mosque massacre called the president “a symbol of renewed white identity.” SENT: 800 words, photos, video.

NEW ZEALAND-MOSQUE SHOOTINGS-INTERNET AUDIENCE _ The suspected New Zealand shooter carefully modeled his attack for an internet age. He live-streamed the massacre, shouted out a popular meme slogan and published a long, rambling manifesto replete with inside jokes geared for those steeped in underground internet culture. By Technology Writer Rachel Lerman. SENT: 840 words, photos.

NEW ZEALAND-GUN LAWS _ There are an estimated 1.2 million guns in New Zealand _ roughly one for every four New Zealanders. While that pales in comparison to the United States, the tiny country distinguishes itself as one of the most gun-friendly countries in the world. Still, gun violence there is rare. SENT: 760 words, photos.

NEW ZEALAND-MOSQUE SHOOTING-HERO _ When the gunman advanced toward the mosque killing those in his path, Abdul Aziz didn’t hide. Instead, he picked up the first thing he could find, a credit card machine, and ran outside screaming “Come here!” Aziz, 48, is being hailed as hero for preventing more deaths during Friday prayers at the Linwood mosque in Christchurch. The gunman killed 49 people after attacking two mosques in the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand’s modern history. Seven were killed at the Linwood mosque. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.

CRI--MOSQUE SHOOTING-BANGLADESH TEAM _ New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White has said his country may no longer be a safe haven for visiting sports teams after the mass shooting at a Christchurch mosque. The Bangladesh cricket team narrowly avoided the shooting and White says New Zealand may have to reconsider security for sports teams. By Sports Writer Steve McMorran. SENT: 640 words, photos. With RGU--MOSQUE SHOOTING-MATCH CANCELED _ Christchurch team cancels Super Rugby match after shootings (sent).

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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ELECTION 2020-CAMPAIGN RDP _ Five candidates for president are set to campaign, while others weighing a run, including former Vice President Joe Biden, will speak. SENT: 140 words.

LENNY DYKSTRA-THREAT CHARGE _ A judge has dropped drug and terroristic threat charges filed against former Major League baseball player Lenny Dykstra after an altercation with an Uber driver. SENT: 240 words, photos.

PEOPLE-NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON _ Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will return to the air on two TV shows that had been put on hold for a sexual misconduct investigation. SENT: 130 words, photo.

CHRISTIE-TRAFFIC JAMS _ A convicted appointee of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has joined his co-defendant’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. SENT: 260 words.

SANTA ANITA-FATALITIES _ The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office says it has assigned investigators to help look into a spate of 22 horse deaths at Santa Anita. SENT: 600 words, photo.

DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP _ A new survey has found a sharp decline in desert bighorn sheep in Southern California, and biologists suspect the cause is a disease contracted from domestic animals. SENT: 130 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-BETO O’ROURKE _ Democratic presidential contender Beto O’Rourke acknowledged making mistakes as a teen and as a candidate, responding to criticism of his campaign rhetoric toward his wife as well as writings he produced online when he was young. SENT: 860 words, photos. With ELECTION 2020-AL GORE _ Former Vice President Al Gore is praising the Democrats’ 2020 presidential field for its emphasis on combating climate change. SENT: 800 words, video, photos.

ELECTION 2020-KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND-NEW HAMPSHIRE _ Democratic presidential hopeful Kirsten Gillibrand is trying to connect with voters’ important issues on the ground _ or, in some cases, underground. The U.S. senator from New York held two roundtable discussions in New Hampshire communities struggling with contaminated water. SENT: 430 words, photos.

SUPREME COURT-GINSBURG’S BIRTHDAY _ Fans of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg are celebrating her 86th birthday by exercising in front of the high court. The court’s oldest justice has become known for her workouts, which include push-ups and planks. SENT: 390 words, photos

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INTERNATIONAL

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PUERTO RICO-HURRICANE MARIA _ Hundreds of Puerto Ricans filled a coliseum to speak at a first of its kind public hearing organized by a group of U.S. legislators visiting the U.S. territory amid complaints about austerity measures and the pace of federal hurricane recovery funds nearly two years after Hurricane Maria. SENT: 700 words.

CUBA-US _ The U.S. State Department says it is eliminating a coveted five-year tourist visa for Cubans, dealing a heavy blow to entrepreneurs and Cuban members of divided families, who used the visas to see relatives in the United States and buy precious supplies for their businesses on the island. SENT: 630 words, photo.

VENEZUELA-THE MOST VULNERABLE _ Some of Venezuela’s most vulnerable residents are losing hope that they’ll ever have lights again, even as the power has surged back to life across most of country. SENT: 700 words, photos.

UNITED NATIONS-SOUTH SUDAN _ The Security Council extended the mandate of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan by a vote of 14-0 with Russia abstaining to protest the resolution’s failure to welcome September’s peace agreement. SENT: 610 words.

UNITED NATIONS-AFGHANISTAN _ The United States and China clashed over Beijing’s $1 trillion “belt and road” global infrastructure program after the Security Council unanimously approved a bare bones resolution extending the mandate of the U.N. political mission in Afghanistan for six months. SENT: 500 words.

VENEZUELA-GERMAN JOURNALIST _ A German freelance journalist jailed in Venezuela since November on espionage charges was released within weeks of two other reporters being expelled from the tumultuous South American nation, his parents and a human rights attorney confirmed. SENT: 540 words.

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NATIONAL

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R KELLY _ Cameras will be allowed in the courtroom during the trial and pretrial hearings in R. Kelly’s sexual abuse case, but the R&B singer’s accusers can’t be photographed or filmed without their consent, a judge ruled. SENT: 880 words, video, photo.

MISSISSIPPI-CIVIL RIGHTS _ The Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman said Mississippi’s governor is “clearly despicable” for not acknowledging work by the state’s only black congressman to get the home of a slain civil rights leader named a national monument. SENT: 520 words, photos.

REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT-MISSISSIPPI _ A federal appeals court told Mississippi lawmakers to redraw a state Senate district where a judge found that black residents’ voting power had been diluted. SENT: 430 words.

US-CHINA-TRADE TALKS _ U.S. business groups say they are encouraged by China’s approval of a new law that loosens restrictions on foreign investment and said it could help smooth the way to a substantive trade agreement between the two countries. By Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber. SENT: 570 words, photo.

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HEALTH/SCIENCE

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EGGS-HEALTH _ The latest U.S. research on eggs won’t go over easy for those who can’t eat breakfast without them. Adults who ate about 1 ½ eggs daily had a slightly higher risk of heart disease than those who ate no eggs. The study showed the more eggs, the greater the risk. The chances of dying early were also elevated. By Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner. SENT: 760 words, photo.

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SPORTS

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T25-ACC-DUKE-NORTH CAROLINA _ Zion Williamson made the difference for fifth-ranked Duke in its third matchup with rival North Carolina. Williamson tipped in his own miss to put the Blue Devils ahead for good, and Duke survived a final-play shot to beat the third-ranked Tar Heels 74-73 in the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals. By Basketball Writer Aaron Beard. SENT: 670 words, photos.

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ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT

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FILM-JAMES GUNN REHIRED _ Months after being fired over old tweets, James Gunn has been rehired as director of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Gunn was fired last July over tweets from nearly a decade ago in which Gunn joked about subjects like pedophilia and rape. SENT: 320 words, photo.

OBIT-WS MERWIN _ W.S. Merwin, a prolific and versatile poetry master who evolved through a wide range of styles as he celebrated nature, condemned war and industrialism and reached for the elusive past, died Friday. He was 91. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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